Federal authorities have escalated an investigation into Rep. Ilhan Omar’s immigration paperwork ahead of the November 8 midterm elections, prompting her Republican opponent to call for transparency.
John Nagel, Omar’s GOP challenger in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, urged the four-term lawmaker to release her immigration files and undergo a DNA test to address ongoing allegations. Nagel, a former Minnesota State Patrol trooper, stated that Omar has a duty to prove her ability to serve amid the federal probe. ‘She is an elected representative,’ Nagel said. ‘It is her obligation to show the public that she can still serve us.’ Nagel emphasized that if Omar were innocent, she could resolve the matter by providing documentation.
The investigation follows a federal raid on Omar’s Washington, D.C., home earlier this month, which Nagel described as involving ‘very serious allegations.’ Omar has not been charged with any crime, and her office did not respond to requests for comment.
Nagel also highlighted broader concerns about Somali gang violence and terrorism in Minnesota, calling for a task force to address these issues. He referenced the FBI’s thwarting of a 2026 terror plot at the Mall of America and recent shootings linked to Somali gangs in Minneapolis suburbs. ‘We have a terrorist problem,’ Nagel said, adding that Minneapolis faces gang-related violence across multiple communities.
Omar, a Somali-born Democrat, has faced repeated scrutiny over her immigration history, including allegations of fraud in her paperwork. The federal investigation remains ongoing, with no charges filed as of the latest reporting.